MIL-W-16878 Cable Designation

All MIL-W-16878 and MIL-DTL-16878 cables are designated by a six field code that indicates the exact construction of each cable. Please note the following example of a MIL-W-16878/5-DCB-2 or MIL-DTL-16878- DCB-2 cables.

Cable Description: MIL-W-16878/5 - DCB-2(1) (2) (3)(4)(5)(6)

Prefix (1):

All MIL-W-16878 cables will carry this prefix.

Specification Number (2):

This number code position identifies the type, voltage rating, insulation, nominal wall thickness, conductor coating, and maximum temperature rating of the cable.

Conductor Material (3):

This letter code position identifies the material the conductor is made of.

Conductor Size (4):

This letter code position identifies the wire size.

Conductor Stranding (5):

This letter code position identifies the conductor stranding.

Color Code (6):

This number designates the color of the insulation material.

Specification Number

Military Specification

Type

Voltage Rating (RMS)

Insulation

Nominal WallThickness(in) (mm)

Conductor Coating *

Temp. Rating Max. (°C)

MIL-DTL-16878 /1

B

600

PVC

0.01

0.254

Tin

105

MIL-DTL-16878 /2

C

1,000

PVC

0.015

0.381

Tin

105

MIL-DTL-16878 /3

D

3,000

PVC

0.03

0.762

Tin

105

MIL-W-16878 /4 NEMA HP-3

E

600

PTFE

0.01

0.254

Silver

200

MIL-W-16878 /5 NEMA HP-3

EE

1,000

PTFE

0.015

0.381

Silver

200

MIL-W-16878 /6 NEMA HP-3

ET

250

PTFE

0.006

0.152

Silver

200

MIL-W-16878 /11 NEMA HP-4

K

600

FEP

0.01

0.254

Silver

200

MIL-W-16878 /12 NEMA HP-4

KK

1,000

FEP

0.015

0.381

Silver

200

MIL-W-16878 /13 NEMA HP-4

KT

250

FEP

0.006

0.152

Silver

200

MIL-DTL-16878 /17

BN

600

PVC / Nylon

0.01

0.254

Tin

105 / 115

MIL-DTL-16878 /18

CN

1000

PVC / Nylon

0.015

0.381

Tin

105 / 115

MIL-DTL-16878 /19

DN

3000

PVC / Nylon

0.03

0.762

Tin

105 / 115

MIL-W-16878 /20 NEMA HP-3

250

PTFE tape

0.006

0.152

Silver

200

MIL-W-16878 /21 NEMA HP-3

600

PTFE tape

0.01

0.254

Silver

200

MIL-W-16878 /22 NEMA HP-3

1,000

PTFE tape

0.015

0.381

Silver

200

MIL-W-16878 /23 NEMA HP-3

ET

250

PTFE

0.006

0.152

Nickel

260

MIL-W-16878 /24 NEMA HP-3

250

PTFE tape

0.006

0.152

Nickel

260

MIL-W-16878 /25 NEMA HP-3

E

600

PTFE

0.01

0.254

Nickel

260

MIL-W-16878 /26 NEMA HP-3

600

PTFE tape

0.01

0.254

Nickel

260

MIL-W-16878 /27 NEMA HP-3

EE

1,000

PTFE

0.015

0.381

Nickel

260

MIL-W-16878 /28 NEMA HP-3

1,000

PTFE tape

0.015

0.381

Nickel

260

* Coatings are those listed in the Military Specification, others available upon request.

Conductor Material

B

coated copper

C

coated coppercovered steel

D

coated highstrengthcopper alloy

E

coated copperwith overallmetallic coating

Conductor Material

NumberDesignation

Color

0

black

1

brown

2

red

3

orange

4

yellow

5

green

6

blue

7

violet(purple)

8

gray(slate)

9

white

ConductorSize

Letter

AWG

A

32

B

30

C

28

D

26

E

24

F

22

G

20

H

18

J

16

K

14

L

12

M

10

N

8

P

6

R

4

S

2

T

1

U

0

W

00

Y

000

Z

0000

ConductorStranding

Letter

NumberofStrands

A

1 (solid)

B

7

C

10

D

16

E

19

F

26

G

37

H

41

J

65

K

105

L

133

M

168

N

259

P

665

R

817

S

1,045

T

1,330

V

1,672

W

2,109

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